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J. ABRAMSON. SYSTEM OF INTERIOR ART DECORATION.

Patented Jan. 12,

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No. 466,995. Patented Jan. 12, 18-92;

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(No Model.) -7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. ABRAMSON. SYSTEM OF INTERIOR ART DECORATION.

No. 466,995. Patented Jan. 12, 1892.

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(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. ABRAMSON. SYSTEM OI INTERIOR ART DECORATION. No. 466,996. Patented Jan. 12, 1892.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5. J. ABRAMSON.

SYSTEM OF INTERIOR ART DECORATION. .No. 466,995. Patented Jan. 12, 1892.

flay/9 EJ219320 J a7 2705?: I Inventoiv (N0 Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

J. ABRAM'SON. SYSTEM OF INTERIOR ART DECORATION. No. 466,995. Patented Jan. 12, 1892.

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J. ABRAMSON.

SYSTEM 0]? INTERIOR ART DECORATION.

No. 466,995. Patented Jan. 12, 1892. I

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UNITED STATES JOSEPH ABRAMSON, OF NEV PATENT OFFICE.

SYSTEM OF INTERIOR ART DECORATION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,995, dated January 12, 1892. Application filed August 7, 1890. Serial No. 361.382- (lTo model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH ABRAMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interior Art Decorations, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to to make and use the same.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Like letters of reference indicate similar I5 parts on each figure of the drawings.

My invention relates to that class of interior finish for surfaces of walls and ceilings, made in panels, each adapted to be engaged with an adjoining one, so as to form a continuous ornamental covering that may be easily applied and removed in whole or in part, as occasion may require.

It consists in a series of quadrangular panels and multiples thereof so constructed as to 2 5 be securely fastened together by intermeshing of their juxtaposing edges, the several conjoined panels being maintained flatly in position by a locking device, as hereinafter pointed out. p

In the drawings, Figures 1 to 13, inclusive, are face views of the series of panels, showing all the kinds of panels required to cover a ceiling and'walls down to the dado or Wainscoting. Fig. 1 represents a panel fora corner 3 5 having two of its edges at right angles to each other beveled, its opposite edges being continuously grooved midway of the thickness of the panel. Fig. 2 represents a panel having one edge beveled and two edges continuously grooved midway of the thickness of the device, one edge having an outwardly-extending tongue adapted to take into groove shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a panel with one edge finished straight at right angles to the face plane, one edge beveled, the opposite edge grooved, the same as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and one edge finished with a tongue similar to like construction shown in Fig. 2. Fig. trepresents apanel with one edge beveled, two edges each continuously groovedtheirfull length midwayof their thickness, and one edge provided with outwardlyprotruding tongue midway of its width and reaching the extreme length of said edge. Fig. 5 represents a panel having two edges each provided with a tongue midway of its thickness extending outwardly therefrom, and two edges each provided with a groove similar to the grooves in the previously-described figures. Fig. 6 represents a base-panel having extending tongues located in the same position as in Fig. 5, the lower edge being straight at right angles to the surface plane of the device and one edge provided with a groove similar to those on the other figures. Fig. 7 represents a panel with one edge beve1ed,one edge provided with a tongue, one rabbet edge, and one grooved edge. Fig. 8 is a similar view of a panelhavingstraightedgeatrightanglesto the surface plane and two edges having tongues similar to those on the other panels, one edge being beveled. Fig. 9 represents a panel having its edges respectively finished with one rabbet, one groove, one tongue, and one bevel. Fig. 10 shows a panel with bevels at two edges at right angles to each other, one edge provided with an extending tongue and one edge having lengthwise groove. Fig. 11 shows a panel with one edge beveled and two edges each provided with an outwardly-ex- 8o tending tongue, one edge being grooved lengthwise. Fig. 12 represents a panel, two edges each beveled, and two edges each supplied with extending tongue. Fig. 13 is aview of thelocking-panel. It has two edges beveled, two edges rabbeted, and is provided with a spring-controlled hinged trap adapted to be opened for operation of swinging bolts on the inner side of the panel. Fig. 14 is a rear view of Fig. 13,.showing the bolts in position for locking purposes. Fig. 15 is a similar view showing the bolts withdrawn. Fig. 16 represents a portion of a wall or ceiling supplied withfurring-strips and overlying grooved bars in position for reception of pan- 5 els. Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail View of two furring-strips across which is a single grooved locking-bar. Fig. 18 is a like view showing a locking T-bolt within the groove of the locking-bar. Fig. 19 is a side elevation of :00 one of the locking-bolts. Fig. 20 is a perspective view of locking-bolt shown in Fig.

19 attached to base-plate. Fig. 21 represents a wall or ceiling partly covered with panels, illustrating the method of covering the whole surface according to my invention. Fig. 22 is a face view of a wall or ceiling entirely covered with panels according to my invention. Fig. 23 is a rear view of a wall completely covered with panels according to my invention. Fig. 24 is a rear view of one of the panels having attached thereto a T-bolt adapted to slide within groove of the locking-bar.

In various figures a part of'each face is broken away to show grooves in the edges of the panel. In some panels grooves are indicated by dotted lines. Each panel is pro vided with edges to intermesh with panels brought into juxtaposition therewith.

In the drawings, A is the bevel edge, which makes a miter to make a miter-joint at the junction of one wall with another or with the ceiling.

A is a plain flat edge at the lower end of base-panels; B, furring-strips.

T is atongue; T, rabbeted edge; G, groove, which runs continuously the full length of some of the panels, midway of the thickness thereof, adapted to receive tongue T of an adjacent panel.

0 is a trap covering opening 0', adjusted to locking-panel 13, hinged thereto; N N, turning-bolts pivotally connected to the under side of said panel, which secure said panel in place. This trap ishinged to the inside of said panel and closes automatically by means of coiled springm,adjustedbetween thehinges. (See Figs. 14: and 15.) Two operating-cords are attached to each bolt N. Said cords are passed through staples 3, each cord being provided with a ring, as 1 2. To turn the bolts, so that they may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 11 to that shown in Fig. 15, the trap is forced inwardly, the hand inserted, and ring 1 grasped and pulled toward the trap, which will unlock the panel and allow it to be withdrawn. Conversely,when it is desired to turn the bolts from the position shown in Fig. 15

to that-shown in Fig. 11, ring 2 is grasped, and

the cord pulled toward the trap, thereby looking the panel to panels adjacent to the two rabbeted edges '1".

, S are strips made of wood or metal having a central T-shaped groove S running the full length thereof, as plainly shown in Figs. 17 and 18.

s are T-shaped bolts adjusted to baseplates L, which plates are in practice screwed or otherwise connected at the rear of each panel, except the final locking one 13. Said bolts 8 take into the T-shaped groove of strips S and are adapted to be slid reciprocally therein.

The panels are shown with smooth plain surfaces; but they may be carved or ornamented by terra-cotta, metal, enamel, or in any desired manner, so as to constitute given design or designs, no special style of outer decoration being herein claimed or described, as it is manifest that the same may be of manifold character, as taste or convenience may dictate.

Figs. 1 to 13, inclusive, are face views of the complete series of panels required to cover a ceiling and plain walls down to the dadoor wainscoting, it being understood that any given area can be covered by increasing the number of panels, except the four corner ones, which, as before described, are constructed with outer edges that compose miter-joints. Thus in Fig. 23 is shown a covered surface having duplicate panels intermediate of the cornerones,which duplicates can be increased. If there were no additional panels, there would be but nine of equal dimensions, making in connection a perfect square; but instead of square panels they may be parallelograms of any desired size and proportion.

As further illustrating the invention, I will describe the lining of a rectangular room and ceiling by combination of panels 1 to 13, inclusive. The walls and ceiling are first prepared by having strips of furring B securely attached thereto at distances apart of about two feet, more or less, to conform to size and weight of panels. Upon and across this furring and at right angles thereto are secured by screws, as shown in Fig. 17, or by nails or pegs, a series of wooden or metallic strips S, having central T-shaped grooves S running the full length thereof from end to end, as clearlyshown in Figs. 21 and 23. Said strips are placed at uniform distances apart equal to the distance from' center to center of two contiguous panels. (SeeFig.2l.) On referenceto said figure it will be seen that the last row of panels is built up in direction at right angles to the remainder. This figure represents a wall showing three vertical strips of furring and three shorter transverse strips. Across the first th ree are represented three grooved strips (1onversely, upon the shorter furring is a single vertical strip S, which extends upwardly to a point that leaves an unobstructed opening for adjustment of locking panel 13. The first series of panels are slid laterally along the respective strips S, the first rowssay panels 1 2 3being propelled until their beveled edges reach the angles of the conjoining wall, it being understood that as many panels as necessary may be introduced intermedi ately of the upper and lower ones. These panels are followed with others whose tongues or grooves, as the case maybe, intermeshwith grooves or tongues on the juxtaposing edges of thenext adjoiningpanels. In each of these additional series the top panel is provided with an oblique or beveled upper edge to form a miter wit-h ceiling-panels, and the lowermost one of each row has a straight edge that rests on the floor, dado, wainscoting, or base-board of a room. Having thus adjusted a series of panels by sliding them laterally, as described and illustrated, a space is left (see Figs. 21 and 22) for reception of a row of panels that are in like manner slid vertically downward upon the single upright grooved bar S, which is thus filled up its full length, leaving an opening for locking-panel 13, which, with its rabbeted edge, is laid flatly in position. The trap is then opened, the hand inserted, and rings 1 2 (see Figs. 14 and 15) are pulled, whereby the locking-bolts are turned into the position shown in Fig. 14, one end of each bolt taking under respective adj acent panels, grasping them on their under su rface, one vertically and one transversely. To remove this panel, the trap is operated in a like manner, the rings 1 2 grasped, and the bolts turned into position shown in 15, 'en abling the panel 13 to be withdrawn, and each other in succession can be removed, as will be readily understood. The panel 10 is the first one laid on the ceiling. Panels 11 and 12 are also solely used on the ceiling.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that one style of panels, whether plain or ornamental, may be taken out and others substituted therefor. Thus the decoration of a room, which frequently is monotonous, may be varied from time to time. Again, if any special place should become damaged, the parpanels are richly ornamented, they can dur-" ing absence of the proprietor of a dwelling be wholly removed, packed safely. away, and easily readjusted without impairing anypart of the structure of a building. Frequently it is necessary to inspect Walls by reason of dampness and to insert or repair lines of electric wires, heating-tubes, plumbing, or gas-pipe. Itwillbemanifestthatmyinvention provides ready means for such examination and repairing. Moreover, the space intervening rearwardly of the panels composes a chamber or open way for conduit of such wires and pipes that are adjuncts of modern dwellings.

Another very important feature and func tion of my invention is that dampness and moisture, that frequently permeate and percolate through ordinary walls, especially brick ones, and thereby deface ordinary paper, stucco, frescoing, and the like, cannot affect the interiors supplied with my invention. All atmospheric sweating is avoided, for if any moisture or dampness should pass inwardly from the outer side of the wall of a room its progress will be arrested by the open space intervening between the rear of the panelsand the inner surface of the main wall.

When decorations are placed interiorly in the usual manner, the materials used for oundations are placed on top of each other, constituting a homogeneous mass, often, by chemical action, dampness, or interior or exterior change of atmosphere and temperature, defacing colors and otherwise affecting surface ornamentation. This is a serious defect, especially where delicate tints are used, or with gilt or metal, when used as elements of a given design. ployment of myinvention, where the respective panels are not in direct contact with the plaster or other surface of the main wall or ceiling. It is also apparent that the open space appearing back of the panels forms a ventilating-chamber where gas, dampness, and vapors will volatilize and evaporate, and there can be no risk of their passing through the panels to stain or deface the ornamented surface thereof.

Having now fully described my invention, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is-.

1. The within-described interior decorating device, consisting of removable panels hav' ing edges respectively grooved, tongued, and suitably constructed to intermesh at adjacent edges when brought into juxtaposition, one series having beveled edges to form miters at meeting angles of an apartment, one series forming the lowermost row, having their lower edges in a straight line, all in combination with a locking-panel provided with a spring-operated trap, said panel having pivoted bolts adapted to be moved laterally and vertically below the next adjoining panels, as and for the purpose intended, substantially as described.

2. The within-described devices for interior decorations, consisting of a series of furringbars firmly adjusted to apartment walls and ceilings, a series of continuously-grooved strips S, connected to said furring at right angles thereto, a series of adjustable panels havin grearwardl y-proj ectin g T-bolts adapted to slide reciprocatingly within grooves of the strips S, and locking-panel 13, all arranged as described, whereby an open compartment will be formed intermediate of the rear of said panels and the inner surface of the wall and ceiling of an apartment, as and for the purpose intended, substantially as described.

A series of removable panels adjustable as set forth, rows of which have beveled edges adapted to be brought into alignment when adjusted in place, and, in conjunction with others similarly constructed, composing miter-joints, others of the series having fiat straight edges that compose a continuous right line when brought into juxtaposition and interlocked in the manner set forth, each of said panels provided with a rearwardlyprojecting T-bolt' adapted to take into a coincident groove on strips S, all in combina- All this is avoided by emtion with locking-panel 13, as and for the 

